An Indianapolis-based company wants to create 30 information-technology jobs, paying an average annual salary of $67,670, at its Southside Jacksonville operation in return for a tax refund of $180,000.
Interactive Intelligence Group Inc. plans to ask the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission on Thursday for assistance through the state’s Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund program.
The company proposes to create 30 jobs before Dec. 31, 2014. The company, through its subsidiary Global Software Services Inc., does business in Jacksonville as Latitude Software.
Latitude Software employs 41 people now, according to a commission project summary.
In addition to the average salary, the company also said the jobs will offer a benefits package totaling $5,400.
The company develops proprietary software and services primarily used by the debt collection industry. It serves more than 200 clients including banks, credit unions and auto finance companies Latitude Software was founded in 1997 and is headquartered at 7800 Belfort Parkway in Jacksonville. It was purchased by Interactive Intelligence Inc. in 2010.
Because the salary is 150 percent of the state average and the jobs proposed are in the information technology field, which is a state-targeted high impact sector industry, the proposal meets the requirements for a $6,000 per job tax refund.
The City’s portion of the $180,000 QTI would be 20 percent of the award up to $36,000. The state’s portion of the award would be 80 percent up to $144,000.
The parent company based in Indiana employs 700 people in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific.
In the United States, the company has offices in Indianapolis; Herndon, Va.; Greenwood Village, Colo.; Irvine, Calif.; and Jacksonville.
The commission is scheduled to meet at 9 a.m. Thursday at City Hall.
According to the proposal, the company is evaluating expansion of its office in Jacksonville, or alternatively, consolidation of operations in its Indianapolis corporate headquarters facility.
The refund would be paid to the company in 25 percent annual increments beginning two years after the first new jobs are created.
The total amount of the refund is based on the actual number of new jobs created and the verified salaries of the jobs, with a reduction in refund if the approved parameters are not met.
The jobs to be created are software development engineers and professional management positions.
To support the expansion, the company proposes to invest $1 million in new purchases of machinery, furniture and equipment in $500,000 increments in 2012 and 2013.
In addition to Latitude Software, the commission also will consider a lease renewal to allow an existing business to remain in operation at Cecil Commerce Center.
The commission will consider the renewal of a lease between the City and M&T Company for office/light industrial space in two buildings at Cecil Commerce Center.
On Oct. 13, 2004, a four-year lease for a total of 8,870 square feet of space was executed. In the fall of 2008, as the lease term was expiring, the JEDC was finalizing a Request for Proposals for the solicitation of a master developer to develop the City’s portion of Cecil Commerce Center.
Because of the uncertainty over who would eventually have control over all of the City’s buildings at the center, both parties agreed that M&T Company would be allowed to continue as a tenant after its initial lease term expired. The company has been leasing the two spaces on a month-to-month basis since that agreement was rendered.
M&T Company’s operation at Cecil Commerce Center includes 21 employees who focus on engineering and light electronics manufacturing for the aviation industry. Its clients include the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command, Physical Optics Corp. and Boeing.
Now that the JEDC and Hillwood, the master developer for Cecil Commerce Center, have determined that the City will maintain control of the City-owned buildings at the center, M&T Company is seeking to renew its lease for one year.
The price per square foot would remain at $7.59 for a monthly base rate of $5,610.28.
The term proposed is 12 months with two additional 12-month renewal options.
356-2466